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O. S. STROWBRIDGE.

TAKE-UP AND LET-OFF MECHANISM FOR LOOMS FOR WEAVING WIRE.

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V 0. s. STROWBRIDGH- TAKE-UP A ND LET-OFF MECHANISM FOR LOOMS FOR WEAVING WIRE. 110,446,035. Patented Feb. 10,1891.

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V 0. s. STROWBRIDGE. TAKE-UP AND LET-OFF MECHANISM FOR LOOMS FOR WEAVING WIRE.

No. 446,035; Patented Feb. 10, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

CLARENCE S. STRO\VBRIDGE, OF HAMILTON, NElV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE HAMILTON IRE CLOTH COMPANY, LIMITED, OF SAME PLACE.

TAKE-UP AND LET-OFF MECHANISM FOR LOOMS FOR WEAVING WIRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,035, dated February 10, 1891.

Application filed February 7, 1890. Serial No. 839,559. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: the bearings 59 at the rear end of the frame, Be it known that I, CLARENCE S. STROW- from which the several wires constituting the BRIDGE, of Hamilton, in the county of Madiwarp 8 are drawn or let off. The Warp passes son and State of New York, have invented certhrough the ordinary heddles 45, held on hedtain new and useful Improvements in Takedle-frames 1 and 5, and thence to guide-roller Up and Let-Off Mechanisms for Looms for ,6, thence to tension-roller 7, and to cloth- \Veaving Tire; and I do hereby declare that roller 8.

the following is a full, clear, and exact de- 9 is the lay, swinging on arms pivoted or scription of the invention, which will enable hinged at 10 to upward extensions of the IQ others skilled in the art to which it apperframe. 011 the lay are provided the usual tains to make and use the same, reference bereed and also mechanism for operating the ing had to the accompanying drawings, and shuttle. to the letters and figures of reference marked The shuttle-carrying arms are constructed thereon, which form part of this specification. as follows: 11 11 are carrier rods or arms,

r5 My invention relates to improvements in which operate the shuttle and pass through looms for weaving wire and in particular feaguide clasps or bearings 12 12, Figs. 5 and S, tures of construction. the two hearings on each end of the lay hav- In the drawings which accompany and ing the bearing-plate 13, which extends from form a part of this specification,and in which one of the said hearings to the other and en- 20 similar letters and figures of reference refer gages the carrier-arm on the upper surface to like parts in the several figures, Figure l and holds it in a correct horizontal position shows the right-hand side of the looms. Fig. 2 in line with the opposite shuttle-carrying arm. shows the mechanism for operating the hed- This plate 13 isslightly turned up at each end dles. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing portions to prevent lateral movement, and is engaged 2 5 of the mechanism for operating the clothon top by set-screws 12' in the clasps 12, by roller and let-off cylinder. Fig. 4. shows the which the plate may be adjusted to the carleft-hand side of the looms. Figs. 5, 6, 6, and rier-arm.

(5" are detail views relating to the carrier rod Each shuttle-carrying arm 11 is operated or arm of the shuttle. Fig. 7 shows details by a rod 14, which connects to an alternating 0 of the mechanism for operating the clothreversing arm or lever 15, which is the ordi- 8o roller and let-off reel. Fig. 8 shows a front nary arm used for this purpose and is operend view of the looms. Fig. 9 shows the letated in the usual way.

off cylinder and rear end of the frame. Fig. Each shuttle-carrying arm 11 is constructed 10 shows details relating to the bearings of hollow and is provided with a spring-catch the let-off cylinder. Fig. 11 shows details of 16 near the end which engages the shuttle,

the mechanism for operating the cloth-roller the catch being adapted to engage in a recess and the connection between the mechanism or opening in the shuttle and secure it and to for operating the cloth-roller and the gravitatmove it with the carrier-arni at certain times ing frame. Fig. 12 shows an end view of the during the operation of the machineflhe 4o portion of the clutch for operating the clothcatch 16 is provided with a projection 17, 9o roller and a cross-section of the shaft on which which projects into the hollow arm and is the clutch is mounted. Fig. 13 shows an end adapted to be engaged by movable block 18 view of the gear for driving the let-off cylininside of the hollow arm. The block 18 is der and a cross-section of the shaft on which provided with an inclined face, substantially 5 the gear is mounted. as shown in Figs. 6 and 6 and is connected 5 Referring more specifically to the referby a rod 19 with spring 20, which rests on the once numerals and letters marked on the closed end of the arm and presses against the drawings, the frame of the machine is indicollar or pin 21 on rod 19 to force block 18 cated by 1. toward the open end of the shuttle-carrying 5o 2 indicates the let-off cylinder, mounted in arm.

To the rod 19 is secured a pin 22, projecting to the outside of the hollow arm, for the purpose hereinafter described.

At the sides of the loom are tripping-levers 23' and 23', which are connected by arms or connections (shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 4) to heddle-frames 4 and 5, respectively. hen either of these tripping-levers is in its upper position, as determined by the relative positions of heddle-frames 4 and 5, it is adapted to engage pin 24, Fig. 5, mounted on the lay-beam, and force the same upward from the position shown in thedotted lines in Fig. 5 to that shown in full lines in the same figure. During the operation of the loom the relative adjustment of the parts is such that with each stroke of the shuttle-arms one of the pins 24 upon the opposite ends of the lay-beam will be in its upper position, and as the shutt-le-carryin g arm completes its inward stroke the pin 22 comes in contact with pin 24 and draws the block 18 with ref erence to the arm backward, the inclined face of the block acting on the projection 17 to hold the catch 16 out, so that it will release the shuttle, as in Fig. 6. The parts of the opposite shuttle-arm being in the reverse position from that just described, or in the position shown in Fig. 6, will become engaged with the shuttle, and the shuttle will be carried out with that particular shuttle-arm in that stroke. \Vhen the shuttle-arm starts on its outward stroke, the pin 22 becomes released from pin 24, and the spring forces the block 18 ofi of the projection 17, allowing the catch 16 to assume its normal position.

To the rear of the loom-frame is pivoted at 25 a weighted gravitating frame 26, the front end of which is free to have a limited upward and downward swinging movement.

To the gravitatiug frame 26 is secured tension-roller 7, under which the cloth passes in its travel toward the cloth-roller.

In stationary bearings x 00 near the front end of the gravitating frame and secured to the frame of the loom (although this is not material) I mount shaft 27 on a higher plane than that to which the frame 26 may swing. On this shaft I mount two sprocket-wheelsfZS 28 adjacent to each front corner of the gravitating frame and rigidly secured thereto. Under each of the sprocket-wheels 28, running onsuitable bearings y y, I provide pulleys or sprocket wheels 2.) 29. Passing around the pulleys 29 and the sprocket-wheels 28 I provide endless chains 30. Projecting ears 31 are provided upon each side of the free end of frame 26, which ears are secured in the chain. By the foregoing mechanism the opposite sides of the gravitating frame are made to move simultaneouslyand evenly, thus producing an even tension across the cloth on roller ,7.

.The cloth-roller 8 and the let-off cylinder are operated by the following mechanism: 32 is the power-shaft of the loom, which carries gear 33, meshinginto gear .34 on countershaft 35, which. counter-shaft also carries gear 36, meshing into gear 37, which drives bevel-gear 38. Upon shaft 39 is mounted with a spline, so as to be laterally movable thereon, bevel-gear 40, which meshes into bevel-gear 38. The hub of gear 40 is provided with a groove, which is engaged by a fork or ring 41, mounted on a connecting-rod 42. Rod 42 ispivoted at its opposite end to a-disk 43, which disk is secured on a short shaft extending through a portion of the frame, and to the opposite end of which is secured a crank 44 for operating the parts just described. Shaft 39 is mounted in bearings a, Z), and c on the frame and. is provided with a worm 45, rigidly secured thereon, which gears with a worm-wheel 46, mounted on a short shaft passing througha portion of the frai'ne, which shaft has on its inner end a gear 46 (shown in dotted lines,) which meshes into the cogs shown on the circumference of cylinder 2 in Fig. 1. Upon the front end of the shaft 39 I provide .a crank 47. The worm 46, mounted loosely on shaft 39, meshes into worm-wheel 48, mounted loosely on the shaft of the cloth-roller, and drives the same by dog T, pivoted to the wormwheel engaging rack or ratchet-wheel S, secured to cloth-roller. On worm 46 is a collar in which is a projecting pin 49, Fig. 11. Mounted on shaft 39, adjacent to the worm 46, is a collar 50, splined to the shaft and capable of a lateral movement thereon, and provided with a projecting pin 51 and a groove engaged by the fork or ring 52. Fork 52 is connected by connecting-link 53 to lever 54, pivoted to the frame at 55. To the lower end of lever 54 is connected lever 56, which is pivoted to link 57, which link is pivoted at 58'to the frame of the loom.

The operation of-the hereinbefore-described parts is as follows: The gear 40 being engaged with gear 38 and the loom in operation, the worms and 46 are caused to rotate, the rotation of worm 45 allowing the warp-wires to be let off the cylinder 2 and the rotation of worm 46 causing the cloth-roll to rotate, taking up the cloth after it is woven. On account of the accumulation of the cloth on the cloth-roller the relative speed of the let-off cylinder and cloth-roller cannot be readily adjusted to feed the same, and the cloth passing under roller 7 on the gravitating frame 26 will cause the gravitating frame to be drawn upward. \Vheu the gravitating frame has passed upward to a certain point, it engages lever 56, which lever is carried toward the right, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 11, by reason of the link 57 being pivoted at one end to the lever 56 and the other to the frame. The movement of the lever 56 operates lever 54, and through the connecting mechanism draws the pin 51, Fig. 11, out of engagement with pin 49, when the rotation of worm 46 ceases, as does also the rotation of the cloth-roller for the time being. IVhen more cloth has been woven by the continned operation of the loom, it is taken up by the descent of the gravitating frame, and at a certain point in its descent the collar 50 is again thrown into engagement with worm 46 by the operation in the opposite direction of the parts heretofore described, and the cloth-roll is again rotated, the parts operating by the gravity of lever 56, or a hook or connection between it and the gravitating frame may be provided.

The collar and pin on the worm 4t and the sliding collar 50 and pin constitute a clutch for operating the Worm 46. It will be observed, with reference to worm-wheels 46 and 4-8, that they resist in opposite directions, so that when both of the worms 45 and 46 are in operation they tend to equalize or counterbalance each other. Thus the necessityof heavy collars or shoulders on shaft 39 to resist lateral movement thereof is obviated and the friction reduced to the minimum. hen

it becomes necessary, through some defect in the weaving, to back up the loom, the crank let is brought upward and forward from the position shown in Fig. 8, so as to throw gear 40 out of engagement with gear 38. The shaft 39 can then be independently operated by turning crank 47 and the warp-wires be rewound onto the let-off cylinder 2 and the cloth let off .of the cloth-roller, the arrange ment of the mechanism for operating the clothroller and let-off cylinder being such that the warp can be backed up any desired distance, and the tension mechanism will properly and automatically perform its function as well with the warp moving backward as forward. \Vhen the machine has been sufficiently backed up, the handle at is allowed to return to its normal position, (shown in Fig. 8,) reengaging gear 40 with gear 38.

The heddle-frames are operated by movements of cam shaped pieces 35 and 35, mounted on the shaft 35, the cam-pieces operating on lever-arms n and m, respectively, which lovers are pivoted in the frame at o and have a connection between them and the heddle-fram es etand 5, respectively. The heddle-framcs are connected at their nppersides by a chain d, passing over a pulley 11, secured to the frame, so that as one frame descends the other ascends, as is usual in this class of machines. It will be observed that the rod 42 and the point at which it is attached to the disk 43 and the center of disk 43 are all in the same line when gear 40 is engaged with gear. 38, and thus the engagement of the gear 40 with gear 38 is by positive mechanism, and it is desirable on that account.

The box 59 is of improved construction, as shown in Fig. 10, being provided with an opening at the side, as shown, having an inclined face 60, inclining toward the bottom of the box and projecting out beyond the upper portion of the box,and havingaremovable piece 61, secured in position by pin (32. This construction of the box permits the let-off cylinder, which has to be frequently removed from.

the machine, to be easily replaced. henit is placed on the inclined faces 60, the pin 62 and the block 61 being removed, it will automatically assume its place in the box. The piece (31. and pin 62 may then be replaced, securing it in position.

\Vhen it is desired to unload the cloth-roller 8 of the cloth that has been woven and accumulated upon it, the dog T is thrown out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel S, and the cloth may then be readily drawn off, and on proceeding again with the weaving it is only necessary to throw the dog T into engage ment.

Upon the front end of the machine I provide, mountedin the usual manner upon each side of the web, a pricker 65, which is substantially of the ordinary construction, except that the upwardlyextending arm 65 thereof is of such ashape and length, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4;, that it will be engaged by the lay-beam and operated thereby, as will be readily understood from the full and dotted lines in Fig. 1, thus obviating the necessity of a downwardly and o utwardly extendin g projection on the lay-beam to operate the pricker as heretofore used, and, in adjusting the width of the cloth, obviating the necessity of adjusting the projection on the lay-beam to co incide with the position of the pricker.

It is evident that variations or changes in and from the construction hereinbefore described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the equivalents of my construction.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, in a loom, of the loomframe, the clotlrroller, the guiding-roller, the gravitating frame for straining the warp, pivoted at one end in the loom-frame, the tension-roller secured on the gravitating frame parallel with the cloth-roller, a shaft mounted in stationary bearings above the free end of the gravitatin g frame, sprocket-wheels rigidly secured to the shaft adjacent to each side of the gravitating frame, pulleys below each of the sprocket-wheels, and an endless chain passing around the sprocket-wheel and pulley at each side and secured to the gravitating frame, substantially as set forth.

2. 'lhecombination, in a loom, of the loomframe, the cloth-roller, the guiding-roller, the gravitating frame for straining the Warp, pivoted at one end in the loom-frame, the tellsion-roller secured on the gravitating frame parallel with the cloth-roller, the shaft mounted in stationary bearings above the free end of the gravitating frame, sprocket wheels rigidly secured to the shaft adjacent to each side of the gravitating frame, and endless chains passing round each of the sprocketwheels at each side of and secured to the gravitating frame, as set forth.

3. The combination, in a loom, of the letoff cylinder 2, the cloth-roller 8, the guideroller, the tension-rollcr 7, the gravitating frame, the wornrg'ears 4-6 and 48, which 0perate the let-off cylinder and cloth-roller, respectively, the intermediate gears between gear 46 and the let-off cylinder, the Worms 45 and 46, the shaft 39, on which the worms are mounted, (45 rigidly and 46 loosely,) the clutch for engaging the worm 46, the operative connections of the clutch extending to and operated by the gravitating frame, the gear 40 for driving the shaft 39, the gear for driving" the gear 40, the crank for operating the shaft 39 and the connecting-rod 4:2, and crank for throwing" the gear 40 into and out of gear, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, in a loom, of the letoff cylinder, the cloth-roller, the guide-roller, tension-roller, the gravitating frame, the gears for operating the cloth-roller and let-off, re-

spectively, the worms for operating the let.- off cylinderand cloth-roller, the shaft carrying the worms, the one for operating the letoff cylinder being rigidly secured thereon and the one for operating the cloth-roller loosely mounted thereon, the clutch for engaging the worm which operates the cloth-roller, operative connections ,52 '53 5t 56 57 between the clutch and gravitating frame, and the lever 57 pivoted to the frame and lever 56, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE S. STROlVBRI-DGE.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. G. SPERRY, A. F. LINDsLEr, 

